MANDALUYONG, METRO MANILA – Volunteers and staff of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) continue to aid families affected by the low pressure area (LPA) and the shearline that brought incessant rains over the weekend in the eastern sections of Visayas and Luzon.
The PRC – Northern Samar Chapter served hot meals to 153 individuals and set up a welfare desk and first aid station at the Polangi Evacuation Center to provide physical and mental medical attention to evacuees. In Quezon Lucena, the PRC’s first aid station monitored the blood pressure of 38 evacuees, while the PRC’s welfare desk provided psychological first aid (PFA) and facilitated child-friendly spaces for over 100 individuals.
Provision of food, water, PFA, and basic medical care constitute the standard response and rescue efforts of the PRC to reinstate evacuees’ access to essential necessities amid disruptions.
According to PRC Chairman and CEO Dick Gordon, terrains and other areas in the affected regions are susceptible to landslides and mudslides due to the saturated soil caused by heavy rainfall. “Our payloaders are positioned for clearing operations, ensuring continuous assistance to geographically isolated areas,” he added.
As of writing, there are 12 evacuation centers in Northern Samar, Western Samar, and Masbate housing 1,460 individuals.
Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Chairman and CEO Sen. Dick Gordon deployed the Hot Meals on Wheels to Brgy. 42-C pinagbuklod, Cavite City, to serve ready-to-eat meals to 150 individuals comprising of children, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, and pregnant women affected by the pandemic.
Recently, PRC procured additional 5 food trucks that will be prepositioned in the different local PRC chapters to provide immediate relief to people affected by disasters, calamities, and conflicts. To date, PRC has a total fleet of 28 food trucks.
“Tuloy tuloy pa rin ang ating mga Hot Meals on Wheels sa pagbibigay assistance sa mga most vulnerable groups na apektado ng COVID-19. Maliit lamang ito ngunit malaking tulong na rin dahil kahit papaano ay mabigyan sila ng makakain at hindi na nila kailangan lutuin. Sinisigurado ng PRC na ang lahat ng pagkain ay masustansya at ligtas para sa mga beneficiaries,” Sen. Gordon said.
PRC also deployed 20 manpower to vaccinate 1,117 individuals in its Bakuna center in SM Bacoor last December 03, 2021, in support of the national vaccination days which runs from November 29,2021 to December 03, 2021.
“We need to speed up our vaccination to achieve herd immunity before the new variant of concern reaches our country. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated in their nearest bakuna centers,” Gordon added.
